Prepositions in English
Prepositions are words that show relationships between other words in a sentence. They are
often used to show time, place, direction, and abstract relationships.
1. Prepositions of Place (Location)
These prepositions indicate where something is located.
In – used for enclosed spaces or larger areas (e.g. cities, countries).
o Example: The book is in the bag. / She lives in London.
On – used for surfaces, flat or horizontal objects.
o Example: The keys are on the table. / He sat on the chair.
At – used for specific points or locations.
o Example: I’m at the door. / She’s waiting at the bus stop.
Under – indicates something is below or beneath.
o Example: The cat is under the bed.
Above – higher than something else (not necessarily touching).
o Example: The painting is above the sofa.
Below – lower than something else.
o Example: The valley is below the mountain.
Between – used when something is in the middle of two objects or people.
o Example: The school is between the park and the store.
Next to / Beside – used for things or people that are side by side.
o Example: She is sitting next to me.
Behind – something at the back.
o Example: The dog is behind the house.
In front of – something facing toward the front.
o Example: He is standing in front of the door.
2. Prepositions of Time: These prepositions are used to describe when something
happens or for how long. In – used for months, years, centuries, and long periods of time.
o Example: I was born in January. / She moved to New York in 2015.
On – used for specific days, dates, and holidays.
o Example: I have a meeting on Monday.
At – used for specific times of the day, festivals, and holidays.
o Example: The train arrives at 3 p.m. / We celebrate New Year’s Eve at midnight.
Since – used to refer to the starting point of an action or event (from a particular time).
o Example: I have been working here since 2010.
For – used to talk about the duration of an event.
o Example: We’ve known each other for five years.
By – used to indicate a deadline or a time limit.
o Example: Please return the report by Friday.
3. Prepositions of Direction or Movement
These prepositions show the movement from one place to another.
To – indicates direction or movement towards a place.
o Example: She is going to the office.
Into – movement from the outside to the inside of something.
o Example: He jumped into the pool.
Out of – movement from inside to outside.
o Example: She walked out of the room.
From – indicates the starting point of the movement.
o Example: She is coming from the airport.
Through – indicates movement within something, often with the idea of passing through
a space.
o Example: We walked through the park.
Across – moving from one side to the other.
o Example: We drove across the bridge.
Toward – indicates movement in the direction of something.
o Example: She is walking toward the market.
4. Prepositions of Manner
These prepositions are used to show how something is done.
By – indicates the means or method of doing something.
o Example: She travels by car. / I paid by credit card.
With – used to show the instrument or tool used.
o Example: He wrote the letter with a pen.
Without – indicates the absence of something.
o Example: He left without his umbrella.
5. Prepositions of Cause, Reason, and Purpose
These prepositions show the reason for an action or the intended purpose.
For – used to indicate the purpose or reason for something.
o Example: She bought a gift for her friend. / This medicine is for headaches.
Because of – used to show the reason for something (followed by a noun or noun
phrase).
o Example: The game was canceled because of the rain.
Due to – similar to "because of," often used in more formal contexts.
o Example: The delay was due to traffic.
Thanks to – used to express gratitude or to show that something happened because of a
positive reason.
o Example: Thanks to his hard work, the project was successful.
